I grew up in the woods. I can handle quite a bit of "nature" and don't spook to easily. This has really been put to the test the last week or so. The phrase "put on your big girl panties" for anyone who doesn't know means simply to toughen up.
Let me set the stage...
My brother and sister in law have been incredibly generous and have opened up their home to us while we go through a family situation. Ironically, their house is my parents old house- the house I grew up in... and outside are all the same bugs and critters that I grew up with as well. Mason and Cooper are in my old bedroom and Dylan, Eric, and I are in the (finished part) of the basement. It's a pretty sweet set up. We even have our own cable box- WITH dvr... can't get much better than that! Anyway, so Eric has been commuting back and forth to New York on the weekends so during the week, I'm down here with just Dylan. He's not much of a protector just yet.
I very quickly realized that we were not alone. How did I know, well, a BAT started flying around our room. I also quickly realized that I am not as tough as I thought. I respect creatures- with the exception of crickets- they have a purpose and are living things and don't deserve to be killed for no reason. That respect comes to a screeching halt when they decide to take up residence on my body, or my bedroom. Needless to say, the bat had to go. So I grab Dylan and do what any self respecting girl would do... get a man to help me. Since Eric is in New York, I go to my brother. Funny side note: my brother is also named Eric. It can get confusing.
Anyway, he goes down and bangs around a bit, checks behind the curtains, in the closet, etc. No bat. Great. I know it didn't go outside so it is still in the basement somewhere. Not. Awesome. Eric gives me instructions: Step #1 If you see the bat, quickly shut the door to the rest of the basement to trap him in. Lets stop and think about this one for a second. I am supposed to trap myself and my newborn baby in with a bat that could or could not have rabies. I'm not so sure of this plan from the get go. Step #2. Go to the outside door and prop it open so hopefully it will hear the bugs outside and fly out. Again, not loving the plan. I have to go to the only other escape route and open the door and then get away from the door before the bat flies into my face. Great plan. I understand how this should work, but I'm still not really excited about the trap it in the room part. Step #3. Use this kiddy butterfly net to catch it if you can. Yeah, that is NOT going to happen. I have kept the net though and it has come in handy. So that is the plan. A very big part of me was hoping that the bat found a different way out and I wouldn't need to put the plan into action. That part of me was wrong. Very wrong.
A day or two later I was sitting watching TV holding Dylan. He had just fallen asleep and I was waiting for the next commercial break to put him in the crib. All of the sudden- swoosh, there goes the bat. Crap. I sat frozen for a second, but then remembered the plan. Pulling up my big girl panties, I shut the door. Step #1- check. Half way to step #2, the bat got way too close to my head and I panicked a little. I retreated back to the couch to lay Dylan down so I would have two hands to defend myself... at which point I grabbed the butterfly net. I low crawled to the door and somehow got the door open and then ran by the couch, grabbed Dylan, and sprinted up the steps. I get some props for not leaving Dylan behind and saving only myself right? Right?? Again, I got my brother to go down and bang around. No bat. I did leave the door open to go outside so I was hoping that it flew outside. A girl can hope. Fast forward another day or so. Again, on the couch, and out comes the bat. I quick shut the door, again, low crawl to the door and open it up. Grab the butterfly net, because everyone feels better with a weapon, and post up next to Dylan's crib. He was sleeping and I was willing to fight off a bat rather than wake him up to run upstairs. I saw the bat go outside. Commence victory dance. Seriously, I did a victory dance, then remembered the door was still open and I ran to shut it before the bat had a chance to come back in. Victory!!!!! Until about 20 minutes later when another bat, or the same one, started flying around again. I was stunned. I didn't act fast enough and it flew back out into the other side of the basement. That side is the "scary side" and I don't go over there so who knows what is living over there, but I won't be the one to go and check. I have since barricaded myself in once I do the "bat sweep". That brings me to tonight.
Sitting at the computer checking out what is new in the world... ok, so really I was shopping on Amazon, but that doesn't really matter. Out comes the bat. It is flying circles around the room, mainly over the bed in a Jaws circle pattern over my bed. I ran over to the door and trap us in. Step #1- check. Getting brave, I walk, bent over (to attempt to avoid getting hit by the erratic flight pattern of the bat. Half way there, it dive bombs me. I drop to the floor, and somehow supress the little girl shriek that is frozen in my chest. I should note that since this has started, I have done some research on bats. While the statistics say that only like 1% of bats carry rabies, if I were to be scratched or bitten, it is a really big deal to be treated because it is FATAL. By the time you develop symptoms it is to late for treatment. Scary, um, yeah. New Goal: don't get bitten or scratched while trying to get them out of the house. Easy Peazy. So now that I'm back to low crawling to the door- I realize I had forgotten to put on my big girl panties because I was freaked out and being a chicken. I rallied though and made it to the door, propped it open and retreated to Dylan's crib to protect him. The bat flew outside. This is now bat #2 that has gone outside. I have the doors closed now too so I am fairly certain that we are safe and eventually I will be able to fall asleep without jumping at every sound or light flicker- which seems to only happen when I blink... weird. Hopefully they are all now gone. Might be wishful thinking, but if another one comes out I know what to do- cause I wear the big girl briefs... trapped in a room with a bat requires a little more than just panties... either way, I have got this... unless it's when Eric is home, then I'm letting him deal with the flipping bats!!
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